hamster drinking a lot

Question
My 2 year old Syrian hamster seems to be drinking a lot. He drinks about an ounce a day. I'm not sure if this is too much I just want him to be ok. does this amount sound normal?

Answer
Hi Elizabeth

Thanks for your question. I'm afraid that an increase in water consumption can be bad news especially for a hamster of this age. It could indicate that your hamster is developing a tumor which is common in a 2 year old unfortunately. Hamsters can also develop diabetes in which case this is dealt with by eliminating sugar from the diet - this is often contained in hamster treats etc,

It could also indicate kidney problems.

I would suggest you monitor him and make sure he has plenty of fresh water. If he shows signs of being unwell he will need to see a vet. If this is a tumor you might not notice anything for a while but with abdominal ones the hamster tends to get quite fat on their lower half and if it puts pressure on organs or their spine the signs are very clear because they develop walking difficulties and become dull, lethargic and sometimes blood comes from their rear.

If it is diabetes they urinate a lot and it smells sweet. Diabetes can be diagnosed if you test the hamsters urine with a diastix (you can get these from a vet or rom a chemist) any sign that there are high glucose levels would suggest diabetes. All sugars including fruits and honey treats must e removed immediately from the diet and a mixture of sesame seed, linseed, sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds should be added to the food daily as this helps regulates sugar levels.

I hope this helps you.

Regards
Sheila